Engine: 198.980.7500683
Beautifully Presented First-Production-Year 300 SL Roadster
Complete Older Restoration by SL Specialists Hjeltness Restorations
Finished in White (DB 50) over Black Leather
Retains Recently Rebuilt Matching-Numbers Engine per Factory Build Record
Offered with Tool Kit, Jack, Owner’s Manual, Custom Roll Bar, and Prolific Documentation
2,996 CC SOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injection
240 BHP at 6,200 RPM
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
Front Independent Double-Wishbone Suspension with Coil Springs
Rear Swing-Axle Suspension with Coil Springs
Following the highly successful production run of the 300 SL Gullwing Coupe, between 1957 and 1963, Mercedes-Benz hand built 1,858 examples of the 300 SL Roadster at their Sindelfingen plant in Germany. The $10,950 price tag for the Roadster represented a substantial price increase over the Coupe, but offered greater practicality and usability while retaining the outstanding driving dynamics for which the Coupe had become known.
The owner of this Roadster had missed numerous opportunities to purchase a 300 SL for over a decade, but in 1997, he found this 300 SL, chassis 7500654, offered from an estate in New England. He immediately felt a strong kinship with the then-forlorn Mercedes-Benz, purchasing it with 73,000 miles and as a garage find in need of a full restoration. The Roadster had been taken off the road in 1982 following an engine failure, at which time its owner had begun acquiring a stash of parts to complete a repair, but never did. When the consignor viewed the car, it appeared essentially complete but significantly disassembled and in a state of disrepair after having spent nearly a decade outdoors. He was also made aware that at some point in its past, the Roadster had been stolen, and the thieves had made an effort to obscure its identity by removing its data plates and damaging each of its stamped numbers.
Undeterred, he had all of the parts packed with the car and shipped to Southern California, where he took an active role in the restoration. The arduous of disassembly has given him scores of stories and life lessons to relate to friends, but as he labored, his kinship with the car only grew stronger. He partnered with renowned 300 SL specialists Hjeltness Restorations of Escondido, California, to restore his 300 SL to its original glory. Once the chassis number of the car had been positively identified, Hjeltness separated the body and frame and sent the body for an acid dip and corrosion repair.
As the restoration progressed, the body was refinished to its original shade of White (DB 50), and the interior was trimmed with black leather. Intending to use the car to its full potential, the owner installed a longer 3.42 ring and pinion that allows for a more relaxed final-drive ratio while still offering great acceleration and pleasant around-town driving. Between July 1999 and May 2000, the owner chronicled 7500654’s four-year restoration in a four-part series titled “Carpe Diem” for the Gull Wing Group’s 300 Star Letter newsletter. The articles not only cite the steady progress being made and the challenges encountered along the way, but they are also a stirring account of the range of emotions the owner experienced as each component was renewed and installed.
Once the restoration was completed, this 300 SL was driven extensively for many years by its enthusiastic owner, as evidenced by photos of it being enjoyed on track and proudly displayed, now showing over 83,000 miles, at various shows around Southern California. A different engine powered the car for nearly 20 years following the restoration, and the original engine, with its obscured but legible number, 7500683, has since been rebuilt and was reinstalled in 2023. Underscoring the SL model’s competition roots, it was completed without a front bumper, and European-market headlights add to its distinctive, sleek look. A custom roll bar was fashioned for track use, which is included with the sale, and new data plates have been installed. Also included is a jack, tool kit, owner’s manual, and a wonderful volume of photos and documentation of this special restoration.
This 300 SL Roadster is a beautiful example of one of the most significant sports cars in motoring history. An unforgettable labor of love for the consignor who set it up for high-speed driving, it is perhaps the ultimate long-distance postwar tour car, with its 1957 build date securing its eligibility for several exclusive events. Now more than 20 years since its restoration was completed, it is ready to be driven and cherished by a new owner.
*Please note that this vehicle is titled 1958.